Bianca Coleman
NEW YORK has Central Park. We have Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden of course – definitely a must-visit on any tourist’s to-do list – but when it comes to city centre parks, there is De Waal Park at the foot of Table Mountain.
It’s not huge but it’s a true oasis in the centre of an urban environment, with a huge variety of beautiful trees, lots of lawn space, and plenty of benches. Because the residential areas of the City Bowl – Oranjezicht, Gardens, Tamboerskloof and Vredehoek – are comprised of many blocks of flats, and spectacularly beautiful Victorian houses with relatively small gardens, De Waal Park is a favourite hangout for dog owners.
Late afternoon sees an influx of canines and their humans, in all shapes and sizes. The bigger ones – we’re talking about the dogs here – seem to love to frolic in the central Victorian fountain; as a cat person I feel only mildly sympathetic about the state of the cars in which they travel, and the homes to which they must eventually return.
It’s all very sociable, with much ball throwing, yapping, and similar shenanigans. One day we even saw a puppy training class under way.
So important are dogs to the park that next Monday from 10am till 1pm, you can bring your pet to be photographed with Santa Claus and have personalised Christmas cards delivered in time to hand them out to family and friends on December 25. Organised by the Mdzananda Animal Clinic, the printout which appeared magically on my desk (source unknown) indicates this is not limited to dogs but who knows what complications can arise out of doing this with cats, budgies or goldfish.
Prices range for just R10 for a single card to R115 for a pack of five (various sizes), and all the proceeds go to the only registered veterinary clinic in Khayelitsha. For more details about this you need only send an e-mail to marcelle@ mdzananda.co.za or call 082 357 7613.
De Waal Park is also popular with nannies and their charges, with a large play area with swings, a slide, jungle gyms and so on. Of course you can go there any time with your own picnic and a blanket. The drinking in public issue is questionable but if it’s well behaved there doesn’t seem to be a problem. Heck, it’s a park, there are always going to be bergies with their cheap box wine anyway.
A recent addition is the food trucks on Mondays and Wednesdays from noon till sunset. They say weather permitting, but they tend to be a bit iffy about that so check first by calling 082 218 7252. When they are there it’s great. The Limoncello truck serves good Italian food for about R50 a dish. I had a very nice mussel and zucchini risotto. They also do things like pizza, and pasta and the menu changes all the time.
Alongside them you’ll find Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour, a purveyor of a variety of, well, teas (our photographer Armand Hough says they are very good), and The Soft Machine which sells soft serve ice cream in cups. Warning: they melt very fast so get licking. And ask for extra napkins.
The area around the trucks is set up with a table and benches, as well as blankets and cushions… lovely for reclining in the sunshine and reading a book after lunch.
You will encounter food trucks at other popular locations on other days, such as Oudekraal, but again, call to check. They’re also at De Waal Park on concert days.
Yes, there are open air concerts – not many, like Kirstenbosch, but they are free, and last about 90 minutes, and use the gorgeous Edwardian bandstand. A couple of weeks ago Arno Carstens played, and this Sunday is the Mayor’s Christmas gala concert with The Rockets, and Saudiq Khan and his Flamenco troupe.
These events are organised by promoter Charles-Lindsay Bowman, who is 82 years old.
As a band manager myself (my night job) I take my hat off to the man.
Bring your children, bring your dogs, bring your picnics (or buy from the food trucks). There will be some great prizes up for grabs this weekend such as hotel stays and Nando’s hampers. Mark Haze, the runner-up by the slightest of margins in the seventh season of Idols South Africa yet somehow a much more recognisable name than the winner, will perform on January 19. More info at www.concertsinthepark.co.za
l De Waal Park is in Upper Orange Street, Gardens. Open from 6.30am till 8pm from September to March (7am-6pm in winter), and entrance is free. It is opposite two stops on the MyCiTi Oranjezicht route (bus 103). Learn more about the park and its history at www.capetown. gov.za/en/parks/Pages/DeWaalPark.aspx